Luke lay motionless in the hospital bed, the soft beeping of the machines the only sound in the sterile room. His legs were crushed beyond repair, leaving him paralyzed. His heart—a constant reminder of the accident—needed a transplant, but there was no one to pay for it. His family was gone, and the debts were piling up.
He spent the past year in this hospital, the weight of his situation sinking deeper each day. To escape, he lost himself in a novel,The Prodigy of Dawn, a story about a man hailed as a hero, a prodigy with the overwhelming power of light and wind, destined to save the world from the Demon King. The protagonist was everything the world could ever hope for—talented, revered, and adored. But despite his brilliance, he wasted his time on trivial pursuits, chasing women instead of honing his abilities.
Luke couldn't help but get invested. The story was gripping, the world full of potential. But as he turned the final page, the truth hit him like a ton of bricks: The protagonist's laziness led to the death of everyone. The world was destroyed. His talents, wasted. The Demon King triumphed.
Luke cursed under his breath.
What a joke. That's how it ends?
He had always been angry at himself for not using his potential, but at least he had the excuse of being stuck in this bed. The protagonist? He had no excuse.
Luke's thoughts wandered. He thought about the accident. His legs, crushed. His heart, slowly deteriorating. The transplant was the only hope. But who cared? His family was gone. No one would pay the bills. He would die here, forgotten.
He clenched his fists, his mind spiraling.
If I had the chance, I'd do better. I'd change everything. I wouldn't waste it like he did.
Suddenly, the darkness crept in. His vision blurred, his consciousness fading. He tried to hold on, to scream, but no sound came out. The machines around him started to beep erratically, and the world around him seemed to twist and bend.
A voice, faint and distant, whispered in his mind. "Then prove it."
And with that, Luke's world went dark.